First-timers thronged special camps for inclusion of their names in the voters’ list at 3,254 polling stations of three Parliamentary constituencies, covering 16 Assembly segments, in Chennai on Sunday.
According to district election officials, first-time voters showed a lot of enthusiasm, trying to get their names included in the voters’ list, so they can vote in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 24 in the State.
V. Srinivasan, an engineering student and resident of T. Nagar, said he had enrolled two months ago in a camp, along with his sister.
“She received the voter ID card but I am yet to get it. When I went to the booth, the officials said they had not received the updated voters’ list and that I should return after two weeks. Hopefully, I will get my voter ID card before April,” he said.
Members of Federation of Velachery Welfare Association coordinated with Corporation officials to enlist new voters and make corrections in the voters’ list.
Kumararaja, a member of the Association, said a large number of Velachery residents, including youngsters who had completed 18 years, participated to get their names included in the voters’ list.
In most of the camps, applications for inclusion of names were much more than those for name and address change, said an election official.
According to consumer activist T. Sadagopan from Pattabiram, the arrangements made on Sunday, as part of the special campaign, were barely enough.
“With elections less than 50 days away, new voters lined up eagerly to check their names in the electoral rolls, but many left disappointed. Even people who had voted in the 2011 Assembly elections were angry as their names were missing,” he said.
At the booths in Pattabhiram, there were not many forms available and the staff found it difficult to manage the crowds waiting to submit filled-in applications forms, and those seeking additions and corrections.
Meanwhile, the district election office has started receiving complaints on electoral photo identity cards on its toll-free helpline 18004257012.
